Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Okay. This is part one,” I told her and set a box on the ground that was nearly as big as she was.
The loudest squeal I heard ever heard escaped from my daughter’s mouth when she opened the box. “A princess dress!” The words came out on another squeal and she jumped up and down as she held the dress and screamed, oblivious to the looks she drew from parents and kids alike. “And a tiara!” She gasped and the final piece. “A sparkly wand!”
“I guess you like it?”
“I love it, Daddy! You’re the best.” She flung herself at my legs and squeezed tight. “My daddy is the best daddy ever!”
“Thanks,” I told her with a laugh as I helped her with the dress and tiara. “I’m glad you like it. This will be perfect for the next part of the surprise.” I took her hand in one of mine, a blanket and picnic basket in the other as we crossed the park until we came upon the stage.
“A show?”
I nodded and found an empty patch of grass to set us up for the next few hours. Lucy had told me all about the Princess in the Park series, well the truth was she’d left me a flyer with a note on the back that said Lena would love it if I could bring myself to suffer through hours of princess storytelling for the sake of my little girl.
I knew it was a challenge, and though I wouldn’t say so to her, I knew Lena and I would end up here because it would make my little girl happy, and because I’d throw it in Lucy’s face later. It was a win, really. If the interactive re-telling of Snow White was any good, it would be a win all the way around.
I looked around the park at all the exhausted parents who gave half-hearted smiles as they relaxed on blankets and towels, enjoying everything from fresh fruit to sandwiches and even fast food as we all waited for the production to begin. My gaze landed on a familiar curtain of blond hair that hung in loose waves around shoulders I’d kissed every inch of last night.
Lucy.
She hadn’t mentioned that she would be attending, but there she was with her redheaded friend, laughing around a yawn that made me smile, knowing I was the reason she was tired. I looked away before Lena followed my gaze, but I’d done it a moment too late.
“Lucy!” Lena spotted her and took off across the park as if she was being chased. “Lucy, you’re here! I’m a princess!”
I got to my feet and ambled over to the women, uncertain if I was happy Lena had spotted her or not. I had no plans to chase Lucy, but I couldn’t deny that I’d been unable to stop thinking about her all morning. Or maybe my ego was stung that she’d woken up and slipped out of the house before breakfast, at least I thought she had.
“Lena.”
She turned to me. “Daddy, it’s Lucy. This is her friend Toni.”
“I see.” My lips curled into a grin at her grown up introduction. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
“Fancy meetin’ you here,” Toni said with an amused grin.
“Lena loves all things princess.”
“So I hear,” she answered and leaned back, sliding her sunglasses over her eyes. “Have a seat. We have plenty of room and plenty of food.”
I looked over my shoulder. “We’re already set up over there…” It was a lame response, and if Lucy heard it, she didn’t acknowledge it. Or maybe she didn’t care.
Toni laughed again. “Too bad you can’t move it over here since you nailed it down.”
Lena turned from her spot pressed against Lucy’s side and gasped loudly. “You did Daddy?”
“No honey, Toni is being a smart as-…, ah she’s being a smarty pants.”
“Oh.” She giggled and turned back to Lucy, both females whispered to each other themselves as they pointed to the stage.
Knowing when I was beat, I went to retrieve our blanket and basket and returned to the women, taking the spot on the other side of Lucy. The moment Lena turned her attention to Toni who’d complimented her tiara, I leaned in close. “Say the word and we’ll find another spot elsewhere. This is your day off, after all.”
Lucy turned to me, we were so close I could see the depths of the blue of her eyes, much better under the Texas sun than last night under the moon and starlight. “I don’t mind. Stay. What’s in your basket.”
I laughed. “Oh I see, you only want me around for my picnic basket.”
She shrugged. “Depends on what’s in the basket.” She arched a brow and smiled playfully. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
It was my turn to arch my brows. “Thought we did that already.”